Country Capacity Strengthening Advisor, International Consultant, Thailand

.

Would you like to work with organization that Saves Lives?

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.
Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Organization Name: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

Duty Station: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBB), Bangkok, Thailand.

Position Title: Country Capacity Strengthening Advisor

Type of Contract:  Regular International Consultancy

Duration of Assignment: To commence as soon as possible to December 2019 (with a possible extension, subject to performance and funding)

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

BACKGROUND

The United Nations World Food Programme is a leading organization delivering food assistance and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We also support governments of developing countries in their efforts to eliminate hunger and malnutrition by addressing the underlying causes and disparities in access to food and good nutrition to ensure that no one is left behind in line with the Agenda 2030, Sustaining Peace and Agenda for Humanity. WFP is particularly focused on Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 17 (Partnerships).

Strong national capacity is essential to address the multiple factors influencing hunger and malnutrition. WFP efforts to strengthen country capacities are informed by the WFP Framework and Theory of Change for Country Capacity Strengthening (2016), WFP Policy on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (2016) as well as thematic-specific policies and guidance on nutrition, social protection and resilience. The WFP framework for capacity strengthening targets three levels (individuals; institutions; and the enabling environment, including supportive laws, policies, strategies and procedures) and systems-strengthening along five critical pathways: (i) policies and legislation; (ii) institutional effectiveness and accountability; (iii) strategic planning and financing; (iv) stakeholder programme design and delivery; and (v) engagement and participation of communities, civil society and private sector. Furthermore, WFP uses a range of means or modalities to practically apply the framework and facilitate capacity strengthening including technical assistance and advisory support, on-the-job training, advocacy, and South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

The Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific provides strategic guidance, technical support and oversight to WFP operations in 14 countries and the Pacific Island States. In these settings, WFP is shifting its focus from direct delivery of food assistance to strengthening country capacities and systems, albeit at a different pace across the region, to achieve SDGs 2 and 17. Furthermore, WFP country capacity strengthening efforts are focused on four investment areas critical for achieving SDG 2 in the Asia-Pacific region. They are: (i) scaling-up nutrition; (ii) improving social protection and food systems; (iii) reducing and managing disaster risks and building community resilience; and (iv) promoting gender equality, protection, inclusion and accountability to affected populations. 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the supervision of the Regional Programme Policy Advisor and overall supervision of the Head of Programme, the Consultant will be responsible for advising WFP country offices on approaches to strengthen national, sub-national and regional institutions; and facilitating greater coherence among Regional Bureau functional teams’ approach to capacity strengthening.

The primary responsibilities include the following:

• Provide technical advice to country offices on problem identification, design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the country capacity strengthening components of WFP Country Strategic Plans and on engagement with coalitions of partners. 
• Provide the Regional Bureau updates on corporate, regional and country-level initiatives and facilitate cross-functional capacity strengthening efforts.
• Support the country offices’ and Regional Bureau’s evidence-building efforts in capacity strengthening, including defining ways to measure and communicate results and WFP’s contributions in this area.
• Prepare at least one country case study on each of the four key investment areas and collaborate with the Communications and Partnerships units to generate specific deliverables, which will support country and regional advocacy and fundraising.
• Based on case studies and evidence-building work, facilitate the preparation of at least one internal investment case or external funding proposal in collaboration with selected country offices and Regional Bureau technical experts and the Partnerships unit. 
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and lessons from country capacity strengthening topics across WFP offices.
• Prepare and deliver briefings and key messages for senior managers on capacity strengthening.

 
Other responsibilities may include the following:

• Consolidate, map and analyze WFP-brokered South-South Cooperation in the region and opportunities for engagement based on country-specific interests (demands) and potential providers of solutions.
• Explore new strategic partnership opportunities (externally and internally) for collaboration in country capacity strengthening and South-South and Triangular Cooperation. Participate in regional forums and meetings on relevant thematic issues as needed.
• Support capacity building of WFP staff on various aspects of country capacity strengthening and South-South and Triangular Cooperation, ensuring that orientations and training is delivered to staff.
   

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Required experience for this role:

• Eight or more years of relevant professional and practical field experience around national capacity building in programming (design, implementation monitoring and evaluation), policies, institution and governance structures in relation to food security and/or nutrition is essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise applying a theory of change and impact measurement framework in national capacity building programming is required.
• Experience in the delivery of communication projects and preparation of investment cases and funding proposals as well as knowledge of the potential audience and contexts in which these apply is highly desirable.
• Knowledge and relevant professional experience in Asia- Pacific region. Work experience in a regional position is preferable.
• Demonstrated experience carrying out methodical thematic research and analytical work in food security and nutrition, disaster risk management, or social protection.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical, written and oral communication skills, as well as conceptual thinking.
• Client orientation with excellent interpersonal, collaboration and facilitation skills.
• Proven ability to produce outputs independently, while at the same time seeking innovative ways to integrate and apply country capacity strengthening approaches in the work of other relevant units.
• Flexibility to travel frequently and on short notice, when necessary.

Academic and Language Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in one or more of the following disciplines: international development, international relations, sociology, social research methods or other relevant field.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is essential for this job.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Friday, 24 May 2019 (Midnight Bangkok, Thailand time)

TO APPLY

Candidate are requested to create an account in WFP E-Recruitment system before applying.

Please also include your CV with a cover letter, highlighting your motivation and suitability for this vacancy, as part of an online application.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.